The Kitchen Hand’s Complete Guide

1. Why a Kitchen Hand is an Important Part of the Hospitality Team

 

Kitchen hands are the unsung heroes of the kitchen. They clean dishes, pots and pans, and make sure that the kitchen cleaning process runs smoothly. Without them, the kitchen would not function.

In this guide, we will explore what kitchen hands do and how you can become a kitchen hand!

The kitchen hand is an essential part of the hospitality team ensuring kitchen is clean and sanitary and that cutlery and plates are ready for use.

The kitchen hand has a variety of duties, most notably washing dishes and cleaning up spills in their designated workstation. They also assist other staff members with tasks such as preparing or transporting food to other areas of the boardoom, venue or restaurant.

Additionally, they must be able to work with others in a team-based environment and follow all safety regulations for food handling. Seeking more details? We’ve got you covered! Check out our comprehensive guide on food handling certificates in the hospitality industry.

2. What Tasks a Kitchen Hand Typically Does

 

A kitchen hand is a person who helps in the kitchen of a restaurant or hotel. A kitchen hand often does not have any specialised training and is usually responsible for doing a variety of tasks.

Some of the daily tasks for kitchen hands include:

  • Assist in basic food preparation
  • Clean kitchen equipment
  • Load and unload commercial dishwasher
  • Scrub pots and pans
  • Clean food preparation and storage areas
  • Receive and store goods
  • Plate the food before it is served

The Daily Duties of a Kitchen Hand in an Event Setting

A kitchen hand’s duties can vary depending on the event.

The chef delegates tasks to the kitchen hands, who meticulously adhere to these directives. Think about it, could a chef whip up a famous Aussie burger without the instrumental assistance of a diligent kitchen hand? We don’t think so.

3. The career evolution of a kitchen hand

 

The career evolution of a kitchen hand is a road with many forks!  As they progress, they must be prepared to take on new challenges and skillsets and progress from small kitchens to larger operations

Clifford Wallace provides kitchen hands with ongoing and formal training to help them get started and then enhance their skills along their journey.

We have seen several success stories at Clifford Wallace of dedicated kitchen hands learning the kitchen etiquette and moving into various chef and catering assistant roles. As a hospitality agency, we offer diverse opportunities that not only provide exciting work environments but also support your career growth and progression

 

4. Conclusion

 

Start as a kitchen hand is one of the greatest ways to learn about the hospitality industry.

Being a kitchen hand provides the opportunity to learn about different aspects of the kitchen and might act as an entry point into the catering and hospitality sectors.

Keeping in mind they are an essential part of every event.


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In the spirit of reconciliation Clifford Wallace Agency acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.